GB2393307A

GB2393307A - Indicating a desired speed to a vehicle using a moving indicia for speed regulation

Info

Publication number: GB2393307A
Application number: GB0312344A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Robinson
Original assignee: Roke Manor Research Ltd
Current assignee: Roke Manor Research Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-19
Filing date: 2003-05-30
Publication date: 2004-03-24
Also published as: GB0312344D0

Abstract

A method and system of traffic control comprises a display array for displaying a moving indicia to a driver to indicate a desired speed or velocity and control means. The array comprises a series of lighting elements and is conformable to the surface on which it is laid. The array may comprise a plurality of LED's or other light sources which are sequentially illuminated by a control unit giving the impression of indicia moving along the array at the desired speed. The driver of the vehicle can then follow the light in order to regulate their speed. The system may also include sensors to measure the speed of the vehicle. These sensors may be passive infra red or electromagnetic and may be incorporated into the display array.

Description

1 2393307

A vehicle control system array and array deployment apparatus 5 This invention relates to a vehicle control system, particularly but not exclusively, for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle, an array for use in such a system and apparatus for deploying the array.

Increasing car ownership has caused a congestion problem in most developed in countries of the world and much consideration is being given to ways in which traffic flow can be improved. It is now well known that on some highways, a relatively minor event such as a car changing lanes can cause significant delays a few miles back. This is because of a bunching effect caused by drivers having less and less time in which to react and to brake. Drivers on motorways, in 5 particular, will be aware that the effect causes a traffic "jam" which appears to have no noticeable cause. It has been realised that disruptions to the traffic flow can be alleviated if the speed of the vehicles on the road can be controlled. By controlling the speed of vehicles some distance away "downstream" it is possible to ensure that the traffic flow continues and is as efficient as possible.

It is known to place controllable signs on motorways to advise or to require drivers to reduce their speed. The signs display a speed limit in numerals or display a narrative requesting the driver to slow down. These types of signs are only partially successful for a number of reasons. Firstly, the signs are located at 2s a particular location and that location may be obscured to a driver by other traffic.

For this reason, it is easy for the driver to miss the sign. Secondly, these types of signs need to be firstly noticed and then consciously read and observed. In essence the signs have an effect on alert drivers that are conscientious by nature.

The same may not be true where the driver is not alert and or may be inclined in 30 any event to ignore the instructions given by the sign.

Another problem involves the situation where it is necessary because of roadworks or other temporary factors affecting traffic flow to control the traffic flow but there is no existing infrastructure to do this at the required locations. To

install current lighting control would require extensive road works actually adding to the problem of congestion and, in any event, the need for the control may well have passed by the time installation of current systems has been completed. It is therefore often the case that even though it would be possible to improve traffic 5 flow the necessary means are not considered because they are too time consuming and expensive to deploy.

lo According to the invention there is provided a vehicle control system comprising; means to determine a desired speed for a vehicle traveling on a surface, and control means to provide a moving indicia moving at the desired speed which control means comprising a longitudinal array of lighting elements conformable to a laying surface which lighting elements being selectively energisable to provide 5 the moving indicia.

By providing a longitudinal array of lighting elements conformable to a laying surface the array may be easily and speedily deployed without the need for extensive road-works. The system may therefore be brought into operation in 20 circumstances which require rapid deployment. By providing an array the need for on-site individual wiring of the lighting elements is avoided.

Preferably, the array is flexible to naturally conform to the laying surface upon deployment. This is most advantageous in order to enable the array to be 2s conveniently laid. Most conveniently the array is sufficiently flexible in the longitudinal direction to facilitate rolling. This will facilitate easy storage and in one of the embodiments the array is stored on a drum and deployed from there to surface onto which it is to be laid.

30 As an alternative to rolling the array may be foldable. In this case the whole length of the array may be flexible or discrete parts made flexible or pre-creased or hinged to permit folding. This may be useful where a roll is inconvenient for storage, for example, it may be more convenient to store the array as a series of folded lengths in a car boot.

By providing an indicia moving at the desired speed a driver of a vehicle will firstly find the display more noticeable than a static indicia and secondly the driver will adjust the vehicle's speed to match that of the indicia. It is believed 5 that by using a moving indicia it may be possible for some drivers to be encouraged to move at the required speed in an almost subconscious way.

Because of this, it may be possible to affect behaviour of drivers that may not be fully alert or indeed conscientious. Furthermore, the information to be imparted that is to say speed is done so in a way that does not require the reading of the 0 sign which will be of assistance to drivers that have difficulty in reading traditional signs.

5 The speed may be set to slow or to accelerate the vehicle from its current speed.

Preferably, the means to provide the moving indicia is located adjacent to the desired direction of travel of the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the means includes a led array arranged substantially along a curb of a carriageway. In this way the display is arranged to provide an indicia which moves along the side of 20 the carriageway and the driver sees the indicia in peripheral vision. Other locations can be on the carriageway barriers, on or in the road surface, adjacent markings in the carriageway, tunnel walls or ceilings or other locations. In the preferred embodiment, the array has at least one portion which extends from the side of the carriageway in a direction towards the centre of the carriageway.

The array preferably comprises a ribbon or strip of resiliently deformable material in order that passage of the vehicle over the ribbon does not cause damage to the LEDs. In the preferred form the ribbon has a cross-section including at least one inclined face. By providing an inclined face it enables a smoother vehicle 30 crossing action reducing the possibility of damage to the array and reducing noise and vibration imparted on the vehicle. The described embodiment has two inclined faces which will further smooth the passage of the vehicle. The ribbon conveniently includes the electrical connections to the display devices.

Preferably, sensors are provided in order to determine the vehicle's speed. This is preferred since it permits the system to monitor individual vehicles in the flow of traffic and to furnish some control feedback. Whilst in the described embodiment the vehicle is an automobile driven on a public highway, the system could also be s used to control vehicles of other types in other locations. For example, the vehicle could be an aircraft and the system used to control aircraft as they taxi about an airport. In the described embodiment the sensors include passive infra red sensors and lo electromagnetic sensors. These are located adjacent to, in or on the road surface but other locations may be used. The sensors may also be conveniently located with the indicia producing means for example incorporated or fixed to the ribbon.

The array may stretch for a number of kilometres and the preferred form of indicia IS is formed as a number of blocks caused to migrate along the array. The separation of the blocks found to be very effective is 200mm but other separations may be found suitable as well. In the specific embodiment the blocks are formed by selectively illuminating a number of LEDs and these LEDs produce a yellow light. However, other colours or combination of colours may be found suitable.

20 Fewer or more LEDs may be used to form the blocks for example one intense LED may be found to provide a light of sufficient intensity for the purpose in hand. The invention also provides an array for use in such a system and apparatus for 25 deploying an array.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to and as illustrated by the drawings in which: 30 Figure 1 shows in schematic form a traffic control system and array in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a section through an array;

Figure 3 illustrates the indicia migration technique; and Figure 4 shows an array deployment system in accordance with the invention.

s As is shown in figure 1, a traffic control system 1 has a processor 2 operably coupled to memory 3, an input port and an output port 5. Coupled to the input port 4 are electromagnetic sensors 6 and 7 buried in a carriageway surface 8.

These are coils which produce an electrical pulse when a vehicle passes. A herb mounted array 9 includes a second set of passive infra red FIR sensors and a set of 0 LEDs. The second set of sensors is coupled to the input port 4 and the LEDs are coupled to the output port 5. It should be noted that whilst in this embodiment the connection is made by a hard wire link other types of link such as optical fibre or a radio link could be used. The system is used to control the flow of motor vehicles 10 on the carriageway. It is also apparent from this figure that the array 9 5 extends along the kerb of the carriageway but periodically is provided with extensions which extend across the carriageway. The extensions are filtering arrays 11 and their purpose is to direct traffic to change lanes. These portions of the array 9 are flush mounted in the road surface or for a temporary system fixed by fasteners to the surface.

The array 9 is shown in greater detail in figure 2 and it will be seen that it has a generally planar, lower mounting face 12, a pair of longitudinally extending side walls 13 and 14, and a generally planar upper face 15. Disposed between side 2s walls 13,14 and the upper face 15 are inclined faces 16 and 17. In use the inclined faces 16 and 17 assist vehicles to cross the array without damage and also reduce the vibration that would otherwise be caused to the vehicle. The array is formed primarily of a resiliently deformable plastics material moulded to incorporate the various electronic components of the array. The electronic 30 components include a LED display panel segments 18 located in the upper surface 15, a sensor array comprising a set of passive infra red (FIR) sensors 19, a sensor bus20 and a LED bus21.

The led display panel segments 18 include a number of addressable LEDs 22 as disclosed in our co-pending patent application number GB 0212251.3 encapsulated in a transparent epoxy resin. Each segment has an internal connection to the led bus 21 to connect all the LEDs to the bus.

The PIR sensors 19 are located at intervals of 10 metres (or depending on the sensor located in a range of distances upto 50 meters). Again these are moulded into the body of the array and are also connected to the array bus 20. They take lo their electrical power from the bus.

The LEDs 22 are addressable by address signals placed by the processor 2 onto the address bus 21 by the output port 5. In response to the address being detected the led switches illumination state on to off or off to on as the case may be. The 5 power for the LEDs is provided by the bus 21. By selectively energising the LEDs it is possible to cause a series of illuminated bars or blocks to migrate along the length of the array 9 in a manner which will be described with reference to figure 3.

20 Figure 3a shows a plan view of the array. Sets of the LEDs are switched on to form illuminated indicia in this case blocks spaced apart by distance a which, in this example, is 200 mm. These are caused to migrate along the length of the array by selectively energising the next row of LEDs and switching of the last row of illuminated LEDs of each block. The migration process is more clearly shown in 25 figure 3b. The block b is made to migrate from the solid outline to the broken outline by switching on row 24 and switching off row 24. The process will be repeated for a fresh new leading row 26 and the current last row 27. The speed at which this process occurs will control the speed of the blocks 23 along the array 9.

30 The traffic control system 1 may be configured to control the traffic in a number of ways. In a first mode for normal traffic flow conditions, the sensors 6,7 and 19 provide data to the processor 2 via the input 4 concerning the passage of vehicles.

From this is determined the flow rate at various sections of the carriageway and also individual vehicles speed. An algorithm is performed which determines the

optimum vehicle speed for the various sections or for individual vehicles. From this is determined the speed for the blocks for the various sections of the carriageway. The processor then addresses the LEDs appropriately to change state to provide the moving blocks as explained above. Drivers of the vehicle will s then adjust the speed of their vehicles to remain in step with the blocks adjacent to them. In another mode of the system 1, where an obstruction x is present on the right hand lane of the carriageway the LEDs present in filter arrays 11 are addressed by 10 the processor 2. The effect of this is for the blocks to move from the kerbside part of the array 9 to the filter portions. The driver will then observe these and proceed to filter into the left-hand lane thus avoiding the obstruction. Obviously, this technique is also of use in other situations such as a two lane road becoming a single lane or in other situations. In order to enhance the filtering effect it may be 5 useful to provide LEDs of a particular colour in the filter portions such as red for example.

In the above described embodiment, the LEDs in the array are of the same colour in the relevant sections. However, in alternative embodiments, the LEDs may be 20 of a mixture or combinations of colours. By addressing particular colours it will be possible to produce indicia of different colour. This will be of use in emergency situations or to impart further information to a driver such as for example where the vehicle speed is not following the indicia within a predetermined limit the indicia may change from yellow to red. This will indicate 2s to the driver that they are committing a violation.

The system may also be configured to interact with roadside cameras to determine traffic flow conditions and or to obtain evidence of violations to support prosecutions. Other types of sensors may be used including sensors mounted on the vehicle itself with these communicating the vehicles speed to the system via a radio or other type of wireless communications link such as roadside mounted infra red beacons. Audible or visual alarms in the vehicle may also inter-operate with the

system to provide further ways of imparting information to the vehicle driver such a warning that the driver is not observing the required speed.

In the described embodiment the LEDs are addressable, this may be on an 5 individual basis as described wherein each LED is made to change state in response to its address, or it may be on a collective basis. In this way more that LED may be made to change state at the same time for example a row or a block may be made to change state.

lo It should also be noted that only one light emitter need be illuminated at one time to provide the moving light.

The array is made of a plastics material which easily conforms to a road surface.

This enables the array to be easily laid in a timely manner. By making the array IS flexible, it may be rolled or folded into a conveninet storage space enabling it to be carried on a number of vehicles including roadway maintenance lorries, vans or emergency vehicles. In the case of emergency vehicles, the array may be at hand when suhc vehilces attend an emergency incident and the array deployed to direct the traffic in appropriate manner for that incident, for example, by lane change.

20 Instead of rolled storage the array may be folded back on itself a number of times or provided as a number of manageable lengths which may be interconnected to provide the correct overall length for the particular circumstances.

Figure 4 shows one particular deployment vehicle 28 adapted to lay the array 9 to 2s a road-surface 29 in a manner which avoids as much as possible personnel working directly on the road which is hazardous. The deployment vehicle is based on a flat-bed truck including a storage drum 30 about which the array 9 is wound for storage. The drum 30 is driven by an electric motor (not shown) to permit retraction of the array 9. An array delivery mechanism comprises an 30 hydraulically actuable arm 31 that may be lowered from a stowed position shown in broken outline to a deployed position running on the road surface. The arm 31 included a wheel 32 for contacting and running on the road surface to maintain a predetermined separation therebetween. The arm 31 also includes a guidance channel 33 having rollers and guides configured to smoothly guide the array 9 to

the road surface 29. A further guidance channel is disposed to the rear of the truck to support and guide the arry between the drum 30 and the arm 31. A bolt-

gun 35 is mounted to a rearward extension of the arm 31. This is used to fire fasteners through the array 9 to fix it to the road-surface.

s The array 9 is deployed by the vehicle in the following manner. An operative 36 deploys the arm 31 from the stowed position to make contact with the road surface 29. Next the operative pulls a lead portion of the array from the drum and feeds it via the guide 34 and channel 33. The vehicle is driven to a position where the array is to be laid. The boltgun 35 is then used to fire a fastener through the 0 array 9 to fix it to the road surface 29. The vehicle then drives forward pulling the array from the drum 30 (then free-wheeling). Periodically, more fasteners are fired to fix the array to the surface at other positions. The operative 36 makes any necessary electrical connections to the end of the array before it is deployed.

1S Whilst in the described embodiment fasteners are used it will be appreciated that for certain circumstances such as low traffic speeds it may be sufficient to rely upon the friction between the surface and the array. The compounds used for the array may be chosen to provide a high co-efficient of friction or intermediate compounds or glues used to assist in retaining the array to the surface. The 20 fasteners may also be made to permit user removal of the array when its purpose has been fulfilled.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising; means to determine a desired speed for the vehicle traveling on a surface, and control means to provide a s moving indicia moving at the desired speed which control means comprising a longitudinal array of lighting elements conformable to a laying surface which lighting elements being selectively energisable to provide the moving indicia.

10

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the array is flexible to naturally conform to the laying surface upon deployment.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the array is reliable for storage.

5

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the array is deployed from a rolled stored state to the laying surface.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the array is deployed adjacent to the desired direction of travel of the vehicle.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim including means for determining the speed of vehicles.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for 2s determining the speed of vehicles comprise sensors located adjacent to the desired direction of travel of the vehicle.

8. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sensors comprise at least one of passive infra red and electromagnetic sensors.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lighting elements comprise light emitting diodes.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the array comprises a resiliently deformable material.

s

11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least some of the sensors are comprised in the array.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the sensors in the array include passive infra red sensors.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least part of the array is adapted to be located in a position which is crossed by vehicles.

14. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the array is, in use, 5 located at a road surface.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the array is, in use, located at least partially within the road surface.

20

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which, in use, the array is at least partially located at a curb or at a barrier.

17. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the indicia indicate a change in direction of travel for the vehicle.

2s

18. A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the array includes a filter portion to indicate a change of lane.

l9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display elements 30 comprise addressable light emitting diodes.

20. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the indicia are formed to be illuminated blocks.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the blocks have a separation of 200mm.

22. A system as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the blocks are formed by a s plurality of light emitters.

23. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein migration of the blocks along the array is caused by selectively switching the light emitters.

lo

24. A vehicle control system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the figures.

25. An array for use in a system as claimed in any preceding claim.

5

26. An array as claimed in claim 25 comprising a resiliently deformable material; a set of display elements located at least in part in the material and electrical connections to the display elements.

27. An array as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a set of sensors located 20 at least in part in the material.

28. An array as claimed in claim 26 or 27 wherein the material is provided with at least one inclined face to in use assist the passage of vehicles.

2s

29. An array as claimed in any preceding claim including at least one bus to enable interaction with a control system.

30. An array as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display elements include addressable light emitting diodes.

31. An array substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by figure 1 or figure 2 or figure 3 of the drawings.

32. A vehicle roadway including a system as claimed in any preceding claim.

5

33. Array deployment apparatus comprising at least one array as claimed in any preceding claim held in a stored form and means to deploy the stored array to a laying surface.

34. Array deployment apparatus as claimed in claim 32 or claim 33 comprising a vehicle for transporting the system to where the array is to be IS deployed.

35. Array deployment apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the array is deployed at least in part by movement of the vehicle.

34. Array deployment apparatus as claimed in claim 33 comprising a drum 0 about which the at least one array is wound and means to feed the array from the drum to the laying surface.

35. Array deployment apparatus as claimed in claim 33 or claim 34 comprising a vehicle for transporting the system to where the array is to be deployed.

36. Array deployment apparatus as claimed in claim 35 wherein the array is deployed at least in part by movement of the vehicle.

À c À. . . Amended claims have been filed as follows id.,.,.2. ':': : In, Claims 1. A vehicle control system comprising; means to determine a desired speed for the vehicle traveling on a surface, and control means to provide a 5 moving indicia moving at the desired speed which control means comprising a longitudinal flexible array of lighting elements naturally conformable to a laying surface which lighting elements being selectively energisable to provide the moving indicia.

lo 2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the array is rollable for storage.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the array is deployed from a rolled stored state to the laying surface.

5 4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the array is deployed adjacent to the desired direction of travel of the vehicle.

5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim including means for determining the speed of vehicles.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for determining the speed of vehicles comprise sensors located adjacent to the desired direction of travel of the vehicle.

25 7. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sensors comprise at least one of passive infra red and electromagnetic sensors.

30 8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lighting elements comprise light emitting diodes.

* ... .. .

. *

: ce. IS ee.:e:.: 9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the array comprises a resiliently deformable material.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least some of the s sensors are comprised in the array.

11. A system as claimed in claim to wherein the sensors in the array include passive infra red sensors.

lo 12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least part of the array is adapted to be located in a position which is crossed by vehicles.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the array is, in use, located at a road surface.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the array is, in use, located at least partially within the road surface.

is. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which, in use, the array is 20 at least partially located at a curb or at a barrier.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the indicia indicate a change in direction of travel for the vehicle.

2s 17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the array includes a filter portion to indicate a change of lane.

18. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display elements comprise addressable light emitting diodes.

l9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the indicia are formed to be illuminated blocks.

: a 8/ ' ' '-e ' ',.

1to ' À À ha. a. À. À 20. A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the blocks have a separation of 200mm. 21. A system as claimed in claim 19 or 20 wherein the blocks are formed by a 5 plurality of light emitters.

22. A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein migration of the blocks along the array is caused by selectively switching the light emitters.

lo 23. A vehicle control system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the figures.

24. An array for use in a system as claimed in any preceding claim.

5 25. An array as claimed in claim 24 comprising a resiliently deformable material; a set of display elements located at least in part in the material and electrical connections to the display elements.

26. An array as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a set of sensors located 20 at least in part in the material.

27. An array as claimed in claim 25 or 26 wherein the material is provided with at least one inclined face to in use assist the passage of vehicles.

25 28. An array as claimed in any preceding claim including at least one bus to enable interaction with a control system.

29. An array as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display elements include addressable light emitting diodes.

30. An array substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by figure 1 or figure 2 or figure 3 of the drawings.

c e ^ À i) À 8 I r Alec eec ace c e 31. A vehicle roadway including a system as claimed in any preceding claim.

s 32. Array deployment apparatus comprising at least one array as claimed in any preceding claim held in a stored form and means to deploy the stored array to a laying surface.

33. Array deployment apparatus as claimed in claim 32 comprising a drum 0 about which the at least one array is wound and means to feed the array from the drum to the laying surface.